The moment Leon spoke, the firelight seemed smaller.
Not because the flames dimmed, but because the forest had changed.
There was movement now—a shift in the silence, a presence in the cold air. It wasn't sudden, nor was it loud, but it was noticeable enough for everyone to react instinctively.
Reid stood first, his posture sharpening.
Kara lowered herself slightly, adjusting her stance.
Arin scanned the darkness beyond the flickering light.
Laina reached for her bow.
Leon kept his gaze steady toward the direction Analyse had confirmed.
A faint rustling of leaves followed, then a slow dragging sound against the dirt—like something heavy pressing its weight forward. The sound carried weight, moving with confidence rather than caution.
Then, it emerged.
The Ironhide Boar stepped into view, its thick body pressing through the undergrowth, the firelight catching glimpses of its form.
It was massive—larger than a regular wild boar by far, its body low to the ground, thick legs supporting dense muscle. Its coarse hide was an uneven mix of dark brown and metallic gray, plates of hardened skin layering across its back like imperfect armor.
Its tusks were short but sharply curved, protruding outward like hooks designed to latch onto prey rather than simply pierce.
And its eyes—small, deep-set things glowing faintly in the fire's reflection—locked onto them with the kind of intelligence that separated beasts from mindless animals.
It wasn't charging yet.
But it wasn't hesitating either.
Leon felt something shift.
The fire crackled as the air thickened slightly, a change in pressure making every breath feel sharper.
"We need to keep its movement controlled," Reid muttered, barely above a whisper. "Arin, Kara—you two rotate to the sides. Keep it from repositioning too fast."
"Got it," Arin answered immediately.
Kara nodded once, already shifting outward, her blades in hand.
Laina exhaled, knocking an arrow into place.
The beast moved first.
It charged—not recklessly, but fast enough that the ground shook beneath its weight, aiming directly for Leon.
Leon reacted instantly.
Sidestepping sharply, he barely avoided the first impact, the force of the boar's charge kicking up dirt where he had stood a second ago.
Kara was already moving, cutting into the flank with a quick slash—her shadow ability allowing her to weave just enough into the darkness for an unpredictable attack.
Her blade met resistance.
The beast's hide was thicker than expected. The cut was shallow.
Arin followed next, shifting forward at speed.
Leon saw it—the sudden shift in air pressure, the faint hum of energy gathering around Arin. He wasn't using a skill—he didn't need to.
Arin's ability came naturally.
Wind formed around him, swirling subtly before sharpening into focus. He adjusted his stance, redirecting the current, refining the air into something stronger—more precise.
A gust pushed against him, not uncontrolled but intentional, carrying his movement forward faster than normal as he closed the gap. His blade sliced under the Ironhide's plating, wind following the edge like an unseen second weapon.
The cut landed clean.
Not deep enough to cripple.
But enough to tear into weaker flesh beneath the armor.
The boar reacted aggressively.
It twisted sharply—too fast for something its size—using one of its tusks to hook toward Kara.
She dropped low, barely avoiding the tusk's edge, but a stray force of movement scraped against her shoulder as she dodged, leaving a minor gash.
"Damn, that thing's fast," she muttered, ignoring the sting.
Leon adjusted his stance again, circling inward. He needed an opening—something deeper than a simple slash.
Laina fired.
The arrow shot through the firelight, striking the boar's plated back.
It didn't pierce.
The armor plating absorbed the impact—but Laina wasn't aiming for damage.
The moment the arrow hit, she extended her ability, igniting the shaft in a burst of flame.
The beast flinched, momentarily startled by the sudden burst of heat.
That was the opening Leon needed.
Moving fast, he shifted to the side, bringing his blade under the Ironhide's tusk. His strike was heavier—controlled—but this time aimed at a weaker point, just beneath the jaw.
The blade met flesh.
Not deep enough for a kill.
But enough to make the boar recoil sharply, shaking its head as it backed up half a step.
Reid took advantage of the moment, stepping forward.
He didn't need speed.
His ability was durability.
Bracing himself, he took the full force of the boar's next counterattack—a direct shove against his frame, tusks scraping against the side of his arm as he blocked the movement outright.
It hurt.
A minor wound opened across his forearm.
But the beast's attack stalled.
Reid held his ground.
Arin moved immediately, cutting into the boar's side again, summoning a sharper gust to follow his blade. Kara followed next, adding a second strike.
Laina fired another arrow, this time aiming for the boar's exposed leg.
Leon repositioned, searching for the next opening.
The boar let out a deep, resonating snarl, stamping its front hooves against the dirt before lowering its tusks again. It was still strong, still moving fluidly, despite the wounds beginning to mark its hide.
Leon tightened his grip.
This wasn't over yet.